Ancient Peaks Cabernet Sauvignon 2017, Santa Margarita Ranch, Paso Robles, California

2017 vintage – 88% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc, 3% Petite Sirah, 2% Petit Verdot. Cabernet Sauvignon excels at the estate Margarita Vineyard, where it achieves both ripeness and balance amid one of the coolest, longest growing seasons in the Paso Robles region. Here, the Cabernet Sauvignon vines are planted to a range of soil types, bringing added natural complexity to the wine. The Cabernet Sauvignon fruit comes from four distinct blocks at Margarita Vineyard. The qualities of these blocks combine to bring dimension and nuance to the final blend. Margarita Vineyard stands alone as the southernmost vineyard in the Paso Robles region, nestled into the rugged Santa Lucia Mountain range just 14 miles from the Pacific Ocean in the new Santa Margarita Ranch AVA. The mountain peaks act as a gateway for cool marine air, resulting in an extended growing season that yields fruit with uncommon depth and structure. The 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon presents an enticing bouquet of black olive, leather, caramel and coffee. The palate is smooth and layered, revealing prodigious flavors of cherry, plum, blueberry and cassis with trailing hits of mint and toasted oak. Juicy acidity and sumptuous tannins add length to a resoundingly elegant finish.